Current massage-specific CE not confirmed
No current massage-specific CE mandate was confirmed in the reviewed rule chapter. Former requirements are not presented as current; obtain direct Board confirmation before relying on a CE claim.
Ohio massage licensing record
Ohio licenses massage therapists through the State Medical Board. Current law identifies age 18, high school completion, 600 hours, MBLEx, criminal-record checks, and the state application. Local establishment permits can also apply.
Statewide requirements and local regulation are identified separately. This record is general information, not legal advice.
US-OH · VERIFIED 2026-07-25
Overview
State massage therapist license required with material local establishment authority
Last verified 2026-07-25 · next review 2026-08-25
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 503 authorizes township massage-establishment regulation. Address-specific permit, fee, inspection, background, and operating rules must be checked separately.
Claim-level cautions
Bounded details to confirm
These cautions apply only to the named fields; the rest of the jurisdiction record remains independently supported.
Regulatory authority
State Medical Board of Ohio
Local business, facility, zoning, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.
Entry requirements
Education, examination, and application
- Credential
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Minimum education
- 600 hours
- Approved education
- Applicants complete at least 600 hours in a compliant massage-therapy program. Rule 4731-1-15 addresses school standing, distance-education limits, and evaluated therapeutic-massage instruction.
- Examination
- Current Board rule identifies MBLEx for the standard application path.
- MBLEx relationship
- MBLEx is the national examination identified by current Board rule.
- Application
- Submit the Medical Board application, $150 fee, education and examination records, completed criminal-record checks, and required disclosures.
- Application fees
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.19 lists a $150 application fee.
- Background check or fingerprinting
- Applicants complete the criminal-record checks required by the Medical Board process.
- Reciprocity or endorsement
- Out-of-state occupational-license recognition is processed under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4796 and Board-specific requirements.
- Additional requirements
- Applicants must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and satisfy all current education, examination, criminal-record, and disclosure requirements.
Renewal
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- The massage therapist license renews every two years.
- Deadline model
- Renew through the State Medical Board by the license expiration; nonrenewal results in suspension and later reinstatement or restoration requirements.
- Fees
- The current statutory renewal fee is $100. Reinstatement within two years is $125 and restoration after two years is $150, plus applicable record-check requirements.
- Continuing education
- No current massage-specific CE mandate was confirmed in the July 25, 2026 review of Chapter 4731-1. Former Rule 4731-1-24 and its 24-hour requirement are not present in the current chapter index; direct Board confirmation is required before any public CE claim.
- Required subjects
- No current massage-specific CE subject allocation was confirmed in the reviewed chapter.
- Documentation
- No massage-specific CE documentation rule was confirmed; retain renewal records and follow any direct Board instruction.
- Carryover
- Carryover is not applicable to this unresolved CE record until the Board confirms a current requirement.
- Late renewal
- A nonrenewed license is suspended. Ohio publishes $125 reinstatement within two years and $150 restoration after two years, with required record checks.
- Inactive license
- The reviewed statute addresses suspension, reinstatement, and restoration; confirm any inactive status directly with the Board.
Practice information
Scope, titles, and local requirements
- Scope of practice
- Current Chapter 4731-1 governs massage techniques applied to soft tissue and applicable referral conditions.
- Protected titles
- Ohio protects licensed massage therapist and LMT title use.
- Restrictions
- Massage therapists may not diagnose; services requiring an authorized referral must satisfy that condition, and services reserved to another profession remain outside scope.
- Municipal or local requirements
- Townships may require massage-establishment permits, fees, inspections, and background-related controls. Chapter 503 publishes a $250 application and $125 annual permit framework.
- Practitioner notes
- Obtain direct Board confirmation of CE and check address-specific local establishment rules before acting.
Authoritative sources
Official record evidence
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.15 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.19 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4731-1-12 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4731-1 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Register of Ohio — Withdrawn 2019 Rule 4731-1-24 Proposal · accessed 2026-07-25
- Register of Ohio — 2019 Common Sense Initiative Review of Proposed Rule 4731-1-24 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Register of Ohio — Hearing Summary for Withdrawal of Proposed Rule 4731-1-24 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4731-1-15 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 503 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4731 · accessed 2026-07-25
- Ohio Legislative Service Commission 2026 State Medical Board Fees · accessed 2026-07-25
Change history
Public record revisions
Future verified changes will be listed from this Git-backed record.